Henry southey



(No Model.)

H. -SOUTHEY.

BOOT GLEANING MACHINE;

No. 564,115. Patented-M1 14, 189 6.

THE NORRIS Paras c0 PRoYo-umo WASHINGTON. n. c:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY SOUTHEY, OF WORTI-IING, ENGLAND.

BOOT-CLEANING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 564,115, dated July 14,1896.

A fi ti fil d November 4, 1895. fierial No. 567,896. (No model.)Patented in England January 2, 1895, No. 134+ in France February 6,1895, No. 244,915, and in Belgium February 11, 1895,1T0. 114,238.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY SOUTHEY, a subject of Her Majesty QueenVictoria, and a resident of Wellington House, Chapel Road, \Vorthing, inthe county of Sussex, England, have invented a new and useful ImprovedBoot-Cleaning Machine, (for whichlhave obtained Letters Patent in GreatBritain, No. 13st, bearing date January 2, 1895; in France, No. 214,915,dated February 6,1895, and in Belgium No.114,23$,datedFebruary11,1895,)of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved bootcleaning machine for cleaningand polishing several boots by simultaneous operations performed atseparate positions, whereby considerable economy of time and labor iseffected in completing such operations. I attain these objects by themechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1represents a side elevation of my improved boot-cleaning machine, Fig. 2being an end elevation of same; Fig. 3, a plan through line 1 2 of Fig.1; Fig. 4, side and front views of a heel-brush holder, and Fig. 5 frontand side Views of a toe-brush holder.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A machine constructed according to my invention for cleaning a singlerowof boots, as illustrated 011 Figs. 1, 2, and 3, consists of ahorizontal frame A supported upon suitable legs 13. Upon the upper sideof the frameA and at each end thereof is a' bridge-piece 0, connectedtogether at the top by means of a longitudinal guide-bar D; and a pairof reciprocating slide-bars E are arranged in parallel positions upon'the upper surface of the horizontal frame A, adapted to travel betweenguides or rollers F formed upon or supported by vertical bars G,arranged beneath the bridge-pieces O at each end of the horizontal frameA.

To the lower end of each of the vertical bars G is rigidly attached aseparate rail or crossbar H in parallel position one above the other,furnished with teeth on the under and the upper side, respectively, withwhich pinions K are arranged to engage for the purpose of operating thecross-bars H and vertical bars G at each end in either directiontransversely to the frame of the machine, and to permit this movementthe upper end of each vertical bar G is free to travel within a slot I,formed in the upper portion of the bridge-piece 0.

Upon the inner faces of the slide-bars E are secured brushes L ofspecial construction arranged in sets at convenient intervals and insuitable positions for performing, respectively, the successiveoperations of removing mud and dust, applying blacking, and polishing,which operations are effected simultaneously upon separate boots, andconsecutively upon the boots placed by the operator in succeedingpositions in the machine.

Within the longitudinal guide-bar D and directly over the center ofthe'space between the brushes L are adj ustably secured by means ofscrews or spring-studs a, or equivalents, lasts M for the purpose ofholding the boots in the requisite positions between the individual setsof brushes. Preferably, the lasts M are arranged at such an inclinationas to hold the heels of the boots in a lower position than the toes, asshown on Fig. 1, whereby they may be more eifectually operated upon bythe brushes. An elastic or yielding pressure is given to the brushes inaction by securing them upon the slide-bars E by means of pivoted orhinged plates N furnished with springs, and to insure thorough cleaningand polishing of all parts of the boots the brushes may be made tocorrespond approximately in form therewith, opposite brushes of each setbeing similar.

For adjusting the slide-bars E carrying the brushes L at the requisitedistances apart to accommodate different sizes of boots, atransverseshaft 0, provided at its extremity with a hand wheel or crank V, isarranged to turn in suitable bearings secured below the horizontal frameA at or about its center, as shown on Figs. 1 and 3. Upon this shaft 0 asuitable worm P is arranged to engage with a worm-wheel Q, secured upona longitudinal shaft R, the extremities of which are directly under thebridge-pieces 0, where it is furnished with toothed pinions K, gearingwith the racks upon the upper and lower crossbars H, carrying thevertical bars G, by which arrangement the slide-bars E can be caused toadvance toward or to recede from each set separate brushes are providedfor operating on the heels or back parts of the boots.

Preferably I arrange three sets of brushes on a pair of slide-bars, asshown on Fig. 1, one

for each operation, and I may form the backing of the brushes in one orseveral parts either of red fiber, wood, metal, or other suitablematerial.

The brush-holders for attachingthe bru shes to the slide-bars E areconstructed as shown 011 Figs. 4 and 5 for the heel and toe brushesrespectively.

For carrying the heel-brushes I provide a ilat metal plate N, of a formadapted to receive the back of the brush and having slots f at its upperand lower edges for admitting screws or equivalent devices for securingthe This plate N is pivoted 1 brush to the plate.

at one side on the upper and lower ends of a vertical stem turning inbearings formed in r or upon a fixed hinge-plate screwed or otherwisesecured upon the inner face of each slid e- 5 bar E in a suitableposition for operating on the heels of the boots, and normally sustainedi 111 a projecting or nearlyrectangular position to the fixed plate bymeans of a coil or other spring arranged upon the vertical stem.

For holding the toe-brushes, I provide a j bent metal plate N, furnishedon its upper edge with slots for receiving screws or equivalent devicesfor securing the brush to the plate, and having a central projection onits 1 convex surface or back, hinged or pivoted to a fixed plate securedon, the slidebar, the up- 1 per part of which fixed plate is bent away Ifrom the face of the slide-bar E and terminates in a hinge or pivot, asshown on Fig. 5. To maintain the pivoted plate N at the re- Q quiredangle for eifectual work, and to allow of its angular adjustment, Iprovide on the upper part of the back thereof a spring bearing upon aback-plate secured upon and behind the bent part of the fixed plate andex- 3 tending upwardly beyond the pivoted end thereof. The adjustment orregulating device i consists of a rod or bolt passing through theslide-bar and through a hole in the fixed plates directly opposite thelower part of the hinged or pivoted plate N, and bearing against theback thereof, the outer extremity of the rod or bolt being screwed,whereby it can be secured in the required position to The separate partsof the machine may either be constructed entirely of metal or partly ofwood and partly of metal, as desired.

For driving purposes I may employ a treadle, a hand-wheel, or othermotive power,

communicating motion by means of a band and pulley or spur-gearing S toa transverse shaft T, mounted in bearings in or under the horizontalframe A. This transverse shaft T carries two cranks, arranged to operatethe reciprocating slide-bars I by means of suitable connecting-rods U.

In operation a boot having been placed upon the last M at the feed endof the machine, and the last secured in the longitudinal guide-bar D bymeans of the screws or spring-catches a in such a position as to be heldimmediately between the first set of brushes for re moving dust and mud,the toes being presented forward at an upward inclination, the machineis set in motion and kept at work for a sufficient time to eii'ect thefirst operation. Blackin g having been supplied by the attendant to thesecond set of brushes, the last carrying the boot is moved forwz id tothe second set of brushes or second position on the guide-bar to undergothe operation of blacking, while another boot is fitted on a last placedin the first position and the machine is again set in motion. On thecompletion of the second operation the two boots and lasts are advancedto the third and second positions, respectively, a third last and bootbeing in turn introduced at the first position, and the machine is oncemore set in action. At the end of the third operation the boot firstintroduced is taken ofl": the machine at the delivery end and the lastis ready to receive the next boot to be operated upon.

I may construct my machine to operate upon two or more rows of bootssimultaneously, in which case I arrange two or more pairs of slide-barsin parallel positions on a ho rizon ta]. frame, and provide acorresponding number of cranks upon the transverse shaft withconnecting-rods for operating the machin 0. Each pair of slid e-barswill have independent mechanism for adjusting their distances apart, asrequired.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saidinvention. and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declarethat what I claim is-- 1. A boot-cleaning machine comprising a suitablesupport, reciprocating slides arranged parallel and provided withbrushes, and latcrally-adjustable sustaining devices for the slides.

2. A boot-cleaning machine comprising a suitable support, reciprocatingslide-bars arranged parallel, laterally-adjustable sustaining devicesfor the slide-bars, and hinged or pivoted spring-brushes secured to theslides.

3. A boot-cleaning machine comprising a suitable support, reciprocatin gslide-bars arranged parallel, laterally-adjustable sustain ing devicesfor the slide-bars, boot, cleaning, blacking and polishing brushessecured to facing sides of the slides, and removable lasts adjustablysecured between. the slide-bars and brushes.

4. In aboot-cleaningmachine the combination of reciprocating slide-bars,laterally-adjustable supports for said slide-bars, hinged or pivotedbrushes secured to the slide-bars, a longitudinal guide-bar, andremovable lasts and means for securing the same to the longitudinal bar,whereby the lasts are held in operative position between the slide-barsand brushes.

5. A boot-cleaning machine comprising reciprocating slide-bars arrangedparallel and provided with hinged or pivoted brushes, removable lastsarranged and supported between the pair or pairs of slide-bars,adjustable supports for each pair of slide-bars, whereby they may bemoved toward or away from each other in accordance with the work, andmeans for imparting reciprocatin g motion to the slide-bars.

6. In a boot-cleaning machine the combination with a suitable support,of reciprocating slide-bars,laterally-movable vertical bars carrying theslide-bars, means for adjusting the vertical bars and slide-bars towardor away from each other to suit the work, hinged or pivoted brushes uponthe slide-bars, a central longitudiml guide-bar, and removable lastsadapted to be secured to the guide-bar in operative position between theslide-bars and brushes carried thereby.

7. In a boot-blacking machine the combination with the laterally-adjustable vertical bars having lateral extensions provided with racks, ofthe pinions K engaging said racks,

a means for rotating said pinions to move the Vertical bars toward oraway from each other, slide-bars carried in the vertical bars andparallel with each other and provided with brushes upon their facingsides, and means for imparting reciprocating motion to the slide-bars.

8. In a boot-cleaning machine a heel-brush comprising a metal plateadapted to be secured. to the back of the brush, a vertical pivotsecured to the edge of the plate, a support for said pivot and a springcoiled about said pivot and engaging the brush-holding plate and thesupport.

9. In a boot-blacking machine a toe-brush comprising a curved metalplate adapted to be secured to a suitable brush, a fixed support, ahinged connection between the fixed support and the plate, a springbetween the fixed support and one part of the brush-holding plate, andan adjusting-screw connected with the fixed support and engaging anopposite part of the plate.

10. The combination in a boot-cleaning machine, of the reciprocatingslides E carrying spring-hinged brushes'L and having longitudinalcentral guide-bar D, for supporting the lasts M with the racks H, andpinions K, all substantially as set forth.

. HENRY SOUTHEY.

WVitnesses GEO. -W. WHITTON, JOSEPH LAKE.

